Using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to Treat Radiation Injury

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT, HBO therapy) has received FDA approval for treating latent injuries to tissues caused by radiation therapy during cancer treatments.

Radiation therapy is a powerful tool in the fight against cancer. It can help eliminate cancer cells and reduce the size of a tumor. Unfortunately, radiation therapy can also affect healthy tissue around the cancer cells, leading to new symptoms known as radiation injury.

Post-radiation injury is common, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy aims to fix tissue damage during radiation therapy.

Radiation Therapy for Cancer Treatments

Radiation therapy treats cancer by pointing a beam of radiation wherever the patient’s body is cancerous. Therapy employs radiation beams to target and destroy cancer cells and reduce the tumor’s size. Post-radiation injury is common; the extent of injuries depends on the radiation dose and amount of radiation.

Tissue Damage from Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for various cancers, but it can lead to a condition known as radionecrosis, where healthy tissues die as a result of previous radiation exposure. This condition is often associated with late radiation injury, also referred to as latent or delayed radiation injury.

Late Radiation Injury

Late radiation injury presents a significant challenge as it is often initially unrecognized by doctors. Symptoms related to radiation damage can appear months or years after the original treatment, making it difficult for patients and healthcare providers to link these issues to prior radiation therapy. For example, individuals treated with radiation therapy in the head or neck may experience difficulty opening their mouth or chewing. Patients treated for prostate cancer may encounter symptoms such as painful urination, blood in the urine, incontinence, or discomfort during bowel movements long after their treatment has ended. Because these symptoms do not always manifest immediately, patients might not connect them to radiation therapy they underwent years ago.

The Fibroatriphic Effect

The primary reason for radiation-induced tissue and bone damage can be explained by the ‘fibro-atrophic effect,’ a theory that suggests that radiation therapy depletes stem cells, causes fibrosis (the scarring and thickening of connective tissue), fibroblast dysregulation (inability to regenerate healthy tissue), and a rise in pro-inflammatory cytokines (chemical messengers that help control inflammation in the body). If not appropriately treated with safe and effective medical methods, this continuous damage may result in tissue deterioration over time.

Types of Late Radiation Injuries

When patients undergo radiation therapy to treat cancer, they can receive injuries in several different ways. At AZ Wound & Hyperbaric Medicine, we use HBOT to treat numerous radiation injuries, including:

Bladder or Prostate Injuries:

An accumulation of scar tissue can lead to pain, frequent urination, burning sensation, and bleeding. These injuries are often called radiation-induced cystitis or proctitis.

Post-Mastectomy:

Women who have surgical reconstruction following mastectomy and radiation therapy have an increased risk of complications after surgery caused by impaired circulation in the irradiated region. The radiation therapy may lead to unhealed wounds on the

Skin and Soft Tissue Injuries:

The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that ‘some 80 to 95% of patients receive skin injuries, but the most common are acute and cause skin redness, including erythema, dry or wet desquamation, pigmentation changes, and hair loss. HBOT treats chronic skin and soft tissue injuries, including ulcers, skin malignancies, and abnormally healing blood vessels. Patients may even have difficulty healing after mosquito bites, leading to ulcers.

Late Radiation Tissue Injuries:

Patients with a history of head, neck, chest wall, jaw bone, and pelvis injuries from radiation treatment can end up finding it hard to chew or open their mouth to eat and may develop dental cavities and may eventually get osteoradionecrosis of the jaw, making it challenging to form enough salvia, leading to poor dentition and fragile teeth. Paralysis of the vocal cords from the effects of radiation makes it hard to talk.

Muscle and Tendons:

Muscle weakness, spasms, tendon contractions, and loss of elasticity and movement.

Lung Injuries:

High doses of radiation can leave scar tissue in the lungs, leading to shortness of breath and death.

Changes in Behavior Following Radiation Therapy for Brain Cancer

Individuals who have undergone radiation therapy for brain cancer may experience alterations in their daily functions and personality. These problems manifest more often when radiation exposure affects sensitive parts of the brain, like loss of memory or language skills. The potential for tissue damage caused by radiation is a significant issue that necessitates careful medical monitoring, even well after the primary cancer treatment. Being aware of the risks and early identification of symptoms can assist in managing and alleviating long-term consequences.

List of Radiation Injuries to the Brain
memory loss
attention difficulty
impaired executive functions
learning problems
recall or processing speed issues
radiation necrosis

Treating Radiation Damage with HBOT

According to the National Institute of Health, more than 50% of U.S. patients who undergo radiation therapy or irradiation experience cognitive problems. Radiation necrosis can occur in up to 30% of patients who receive stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases.

Treating Radiation Injuries with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Radiation exposure, especially in high doses, can damage tissue, muscle, tendons, bone, and the brain, which is considered nervous tissue. Throughout the body radiation therapy can kill cancer and save your life, but it leads to a host of issues. The delayed injuries often make it difficult for patients and doctors to connect patient problems with radiation therapy; as a patient, it’s essential to know that radiation therapy may lead to injury.

Thankfully, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is becoming more available. FDA approval of 13 treatments has allowed many patients to get treatment and heal from these injuries. There are some brain injuries that HBOT may help. Still, right now, there are currently no long-term treatments or preventative approaches for radiation-induced cognitive impairment.

How Does HBOT Heal the Body?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) aims to fix tissue damage from radiation treatments by increasing oxygen to cells throughout the body. HBOT enhances the entire healing process. The extra oxygen inhaled during HBOT ensures oxygen-deprived cells receive oxygen; it helps to create new blood vessels, making it possible for oxygen to reach tissues near inflamed wounds, decreasing inflammation around wounds. Oxygen also helps kill bacteria and viruses that thrive in areas without oxygen.

The duration of sessions and the method of delivering treatment to the intended tissue play crucial roles. By precisely targeting tumors, we can minimize harm to the adjacent tissue. These improvements reduce complications and increase the application of radiation therapy for various conditions. Nonetheless, despite these advancements, the healthy tissue around the tumor can still be affected, potentially leading to new symptoms.

For now, patients should expect to experience injuries after radiation exposure, even if they are only accurate; if everyone remembers that late radiation injuries happen, it will make it easy for doctors and patients to discover if the pain they have months or years after radiation exposure is due to the treatment.

Explore the therapeutic advantages of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at Hyperbaric Medical Solutions.

At AZ Wound & Hyperbaric Medicine, we specialize in treating radiation-related complications with advanced therapies, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This treatment involves inhaling 100% oxygen in a pressurized environment to enhance oxygen supply to tissues with poor blood vessel circulation. Through a series of treatments, this improved oxygenation supports the skin’s capacity to regenerate blood vessels, ultimately aiding in the restoration and rejuvenation of affected tissues. Our medical-grade HBOT sessions are conducted under the guidance of skilled team members, helping to ensure patients are comfortable and treatments are successful.

Heal from Radiation Injuries with Advanced HBOT Solutions

Restore Your Health with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Don’t let radiation injuries hold you back. At AZ Wound & Hyperbaric Medicine, we offer FDA-approved hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat the effects of radiation therapy and help you heal. Get the advanced care you need to recover and regain your quality of life.